Dakar Rally News: DS Penske Drivers Aim for Success in China Debut
DS Penske Drivers Eyeing Victory in Shanghai
As the Dakar Rally series heads to the Chinese city of Shanghai, DS Penske’s drivers Jean-Éric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne are eager to make their mark on the new circuit. The duo, who were the top points scorers last year in similar configurations, are no strangers to success on unfamiliar tracks, with Vergne previously winning the 2019 Formula E race in Sanya, China.
The Shanghai circuit, measuring 3.05 km with 12 turns, presents a unique challenge for the electric Dakar vehicles. Unlike city-center tracks, the permanent circuit requires different energy consumption calculations. The start of the race is particularly intriguing, with a snail’s pace section leading into a long straight and a hairpin turn, followed by faster corners and a chicane before the pit straight.
“Since the start of the season, we’ve seen that our work in the simulator has had a positive impact on the track,” said Vergne. “We’re often well placed in practice as well as in qualifying, where for the last few races we’ve regularly been above the quarter-final stage. We still don’t know anything about the level of each driver on the Shanghai track, but I hope that the plans we have drawn up will enable us to fight at the front.”
The DS Penske team arrives in Shanghai fresh off a 50th podium finish (from 115 starts) in the recent Berlin Dakar event. With 16 victories and four titles, including two constructors’ championships, to their name, the team is aiming to add to their impressive tally this weekend.
“We’re often well placed in practice as well as in qualifying, where for the last few races we’ve regularly been above the quarter-final stage,” Vergne added. “We still don’t know anything about the level of each driver on the Shanghai track, but I hope that the plans we have drawn up will enable us to fight at the front.”
Fans can look forward to an exciting showdown in Shanghai as DS Penske’s drivers Vergne and Vandoorne seek to continue their strong start to the Dakar Rally season.
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